About this Event
About the Lecture: America is reeling – Al-Qaeda has struck, and thousands are dead. The country scrambles to respond, but the Pentagon has no plan for Afghanistan – where Osama bin Laden masterminded the attack and is protected by the Taliban. Instead, the CIA steps forward to spearhead the war.
Eight CIA officers are dropped into the mountains of northern Afghanistan on October 17, 2001. They are Team Alpha, an eclectic band of linguists, tribal experts, and elite warriors: the first Americans to operate inside Taliban territory. Their covert mission is to track down Al-Qaeda and stop the terrorists from infiltrating the United States again.
Scott Spellmeyer and David Tyson were members of the 8-man Team Alpha, the first group of U.S. personnel to infiltrate into Afghanistan behind enemy lines after the 11 September 2001 al-Qaida attacks on the U.S. The two retired CIA officers will talk about the team’s deployment, including a discussion on working with Afghan warlords, conducting intelligence and combat operations against enemy forces, and the strong cooperation between the CIA and the U.S. Green Berets.
About the Speakers:
Scott Spellmeyer
Scott is a decorated military and intelligence officer with over 30 years of government service, including extensive service overseas as a senior Paramilitary Operations Officer. Among his many assignments, Scott served as Chief of Station at the CIA’s largest overseas station, leading operations that supported a wide range of U.S. national security and policy objectives. Scott also served as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Senior Director for Intelligence Programs at the White House/National Security Council. In addition, prior to joining the CIA, he served eight years as an Infantry officer in the United States Army, receiving multiple awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. Scott was also awarded the Intelligence Star by the CIA. Mr. Spellmeyer graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and received an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University’s National War College.
David Tyson
David Tyson retired from the CIA’s Directorate of Operations in 2020 after a distinguished 25-year career. The majority of his service was overseas with the majority of his postings and deployments to Central Asia, the Caucasus region, and South Asia where he was a Chief of Station twice. He led/took part in paramilitary and counterterrorist operations in war zones, often working closely with U.S. Special Forces and foreign intelligence services. David began his intelligence career as a linguist and interpreter, achieving fluency in Russian, Uzbek, Turkmen, Turkish, and Farsi/Dari. He is a recipient of the CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Cross, the Agency’s highest award for valor, and the Agency's Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. Prior to working for the Agency, David served in the U.S. Army, both enlisted and as an officer. He has a BA in International Relations and Russian Language from West Chester State University, and two master’s degrees from Indiana University, in Central Asian Studies and Russian Studies. David has taught Uzbek and Turkmen languages while at IU and authored several articles and books on language and culture.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Institute of World Politics, 1521 16th Street Northwest, Washington, United States
USD 0.00